Director of Instructional Laboratories

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day operations for instructional laboratory spaces, the Mechatronics Lab, and the Machine Shop.
• Supervise and provide guidance to technical staff, including senior machinists and laboratory technicians, as well as student workers.
• Implement and oversee safety and compliance procedures in coordination with Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) and University Compliance.
• Manage equipment maintenance, asset tracking, and inventory control for tools and consumables.
• Partner with faculty to align laboratory setup and fabrication capabilities with curricular and experiential learning objectives.
• Provide technical consultation and hands-on support to students and researchers regarding manufacturing workflows and fabrication techniques like CNC machining and rapid prototyping.
• Manage purchasing requests, billing, and reconciliation for laboratory and shop materials.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and equivalent experience required.
• 4–6 years of related experience in an academic, research, or industrial engineering laboratory, instructional lab, or manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting instructional labs or machine shop operations, including equipment maintenance and user training.
• Proven experience supervising or guiding technical staff and/or student workers.
• Strong knowledge of laboratory safety practices and the ability to implement EH&S procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related technical field.
• Master’s degree or professional engineering equivalent.
• Extensive experience coordinating technical operations in a hands-on manufacturing environment.

About the Company

Columbia University is a leading research institution located in New York City. The Department of Mechanical Engineering provides cutting-edge instructional and research facilities to support the next generation of engineers.